JAMSHEDPUR: Ms Premlata Agrawal, the oldest woman in India to have climbed Mt. Everest, went surging ahead in her journey of completing the ‘Mountaineering Challenge’ of climbing the “Seven Summits” by completing her expedition of conquering Mt. Vinson in Antarctica on January 6th January, 2013. Tata Steel is the proud sponsor of her expedition. Premlata, a homemaker and mother of two grown up daughters, started climbing mountains at the age of 35.

The one who completes this challenge of conquering all the seven summits is considered to be a member of the ‘Hall of Fame’ for mountaineers. If Premlata achieves this remarkable feat, which she is targeting to accomplish in 2013, she will then become the first Indian woman and one of the oldest women in the world to conquer all the seven summits.Ms Premlata Agrawal was encouraged by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation to take up Adventure Sports in the year 2000. Thereafter she participated in several programmes organised by TSAF including major Indian women expeditions led by Ms Bachendri Pal. A mother of two daughters, Ms Premlata has taken the challenge of Adventure Sports with great courage and alacrity, and in the process inspired millions.

Ms Bachendri Pal has been the constant guiding force and a source of inspiration for Ms Premlata in her journey which included a major milestone – Mt. Everest, which she scaled in May 2011.

With her self-confidence firmly in place, Ms Premlata decided to attempt all the 7 highest Summits in 7 Continents. With the successful climb of Mt. Vinson, she has only one peak left (Mt. Mckinley), which she narrowly missed to summit last year, because of rough weather.

1. The Island Peak Expedition in Nepal (20,600 ft) in 2004, 2. The Karakoram Pass Expedition (18,300 ft) and Mt. Stok Kangri (20,150 ft) in 2006, 3. The First “Indian Woman’s Thar Desert Expedition” in 2007 which involved a 40- day Camel Safari along the International Border from Bhuj in Gujarat— Rann of Kutch— Thar in Rajasthan, up to Wagah Border in Punjab.

These achievements were also recognised as a National Record and found her a place in the Limca Book of Records.

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